Victim of home invasion, facing drug charges, is Worcester dispatcher

Tuesday

Mar 4, 2014 at 6:00 AM

By Scott J. Croteau TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER — An emergency dispatcher for the city who was attacked during a home invasion Sunday morning is to be arraigned Tuesday in Central District Court on drug charges, after police found three pounds of marijuana in his Pocasset Avenue home.

City officials have confirmed that 26-year-old Anthony Vuona is employed by the city as a dispatcher, but declined to comment on his current employment status. His place of employment is listed as the city of Worcester in court records filed in the case.

Mr. Vuona is charged with marijuana possession with intent to distribute.

Police were called just before 6 a.m. Sunday to 32 Pocasset Ave. on a report of a home invasion. Mr. Vuona told police two black men armed with handguns forced their way into his home and beat him.

Officers found Mr. Vuona had cuts to his hands and the top of his head.

Mr. Vuona told officers he was sleeping when he heard a loud noise. He went to check on the commotion and encountered the two suspects.

"The suspects began to assault Mr. Vuona (pistol whipped) while demanding money and drugs," police said in a news release. "At one point, the suspects tied Mr. Vuona up while they searched the house."

Police described both the assailants as black men, approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall, each about 230 pounds. One man was wearing blue jeans and had short hair. The other was wearing all black clothing and a black winter hat and had his face covered.

The men stole cash and jewelry.

Detectives arrived and began their investigation. Mr. Vuona gave police consent to check his home and signed a waiver, according to court records.

"A search of the home produced three separate one pound bags of marijuana. Police also discovered another large plastic bag containing marijuana," police said. "The second discovery of marijuana was packaged in a way that would indicate that it was for distribution purposes."

Mr. Vuona originally denied knowing anything about the marijuana, then told police it belonged to a friend and he let the friend keep the drugs at his home, court records said. Mr. Vuona did not identify the friend to police.

Mr. Vuona was then arrested.

In a statement, Police Chief Gary J. Gemme said the Police Department is finding drugs are the nexus in many home invasions in the city.

"We have seen in numerous cases that the motive for home invasions had a strong connection to the sale and possession of controlled substances," he said. "Specifically, we have found that the majority of home invasions involve the sale and distribution of marijuana. The public should be aware that most of these incidents are not random acts, but are targeted by those in the drug trade. There is always a heightened level of aggression and violence when these types of incidents occur, and those who participate in these illegal activities put themselves, and the public, in danger."

Police said the investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is asked to send an anonymous text message to 274637 beginning with TIPWPD, or to submit an anonymous message at www.worcesterma.gov/police, or to call police detectives at (508) 799-8651.